Podcast: HMP Swaleside on Sheppey named 'worst prison in country' as damning report highlights violence and drug issues
KentOnline
Thursday, 19 March 2026 - 22 minutes
Coming up in today's episode, the KentOnline Podcast has been told a jail in Kent is one of the worst in the country.
An inspection of HMP Swaleside on Sheppey, found incidents of violence and drug supply were high.
Concerns have also been raised about the risk to the public, with the site failing as a training and rehabilitation facility.
But first, there's been another increase in the number of cases of meningitis in Kent following a deadly outbreak.
Health experts say 15 are confirmed and 12 are being investigated - bringing the total to 27.
Two young people have died and others are being treated in hospital.
The outbreak centres around Canterbury, hear from the acting vice chancellor at the University of Kent, and the city's MP who is calling for a MenB vaccine to be more widely available.
A man's been arrested following a stabbing in Gillingham.
Armed police were called to Mill Road near the Medway Park sports centre yesterday lunchtime, we've got reaction from people in the area at the time.
And in sport, Maidstone Grammar School will compete in the final of the National Under 18 Vase today.
They'll take on Newcastle's Dame Allen School at Twickenham after a hard fought campaign.
As a state-funded school, they've competed against mostly independent schools in the knock-out rounds.
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